Reading to Rover Returns!

Informational flyer about the Reading to Rover program

Here at DBRL we are so excited to welcome our younger patrons back for in-person programming with story times and plenty of Summer Reading fun. Starting next Monday, June 13th, we will also be welcoming back some four-legged furry friends that we’ve missed at the library: the therapy dogs trained at Ann Gafke’s Dogschooling! Every 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Columbia Public Library building, we’re delighted to again be hosting these therapy dogs for our Reading to Rover program, which encourages children kindergarten-age and older to practice their reading skills with a patient, kind, non-judgmental and totally adorable dog-listener.

Each child will get fifteen minutes of one-on-one reading time with one of the therapy dogs and their handler to share a story and hopefully some pets and/or cuddles. We’ll have a nice selection of picture books and “beginning to read” books to choose from in the Children’s Program Room — aka “The Egg” 🥚 — towards the back of the Children’s Area, but feel free to get here a little early to peruse the stacks yourself — and to snag your spot in line!

Need ideas for what to read with your new furry friend? Check out the following DBRL staff posts and lists for our recommendations.

Sharing Stories With Pets

Child reading to their dog

Books We Love: Madeline Finn and the Library Dog

Cover of the book Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp.

Dog Books for Kids

Composite graphic featuring the cover images for 8 books: Pug by Ethan Long; The Best Days Are Dog Days by Aaron Meshon; Carl’s Snowy Afternoon by Alexandra Day; Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio; Puppy Pool Party! By Seth Casteel; How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills; Biscuit Plays Ball by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; and Clifford, the Small Red Puppy by Norman Bridwell.

Puppy Picture Book Party

Composite graphic featuring the cover images for 9 books: Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph; Can I Be Your Dog? By Troy Cummings; Simon’s New Bed by Christian Trimmer; Pug Meets Pig by Sue Lowell Gallion; Dig, Dogs, Dig by James Horvath; Pride Puppy! By Robin Stevenson; Puppy Pool Party! By Seth Casteel; Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! by Mike Twohy; Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.

 

Easy Graphic Novels

Composite graphic featuring the cover images for 9 books: Pea, Bee, & Jay: Stuck Together by Brian Smith; Dewdrop by Kay O’Neill; Fitz and Cleo by Jonathan Stutzman; A Norma and Belly Book: Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song; Zootopia: Family Night by Jimmy Gownley; Pepper & Boo: Puddle Trouble by Charise Mericle Harper; Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise! by Charise Mericle Harper; Pete the Cat: Making New Friends by Kim Dean; and Nugget and Dog: All Ketchup, No Mustard! by Jason Tharp.

(Mostly) Wordless Picture Books

Composite graphic featuring the cover images for 9 books: Blue Rider by Geraldo Valério; The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney; Another by Christian Robinson; Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Schaar Idle; Brave Molly by Brooke Boynton-Hughes; Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann; La La La by Kate DiCamillo; The Snowman by Raymond Briggs; Red by Jed Alexander.

Wordless Picture BooksComposite graphic featuring the cover images for 9 books: Wave by Suzy Lee; The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman; Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Schaar Idle; 10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann; A Ball for Daisy by Christopher Raschka; Anno’s Journey by Mitsumasa Anno; Beaver Is Lost by Elisha Cooper; Chalk by Bill Thomson; and Flashlight by Lizi Boyd.